EACOP: A Trail of Fear and Intimidation for Climate Activists and Land Defenders
A new Global Witness investigation reveals a climate of intimidation and harassment aimed at silencing criticism of the controversial East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) cutting through two countries from Hoima in Uganda and terminating in Tanga, Tanzania. As the fossil fuel industry clings to Africa as its next frontier, the report exposes coercive tactics by corporate and state actors undermining climate activism and accountability.
The report reveals detailed interviews concerning accounts of TotalEnergies representatives pressuring impoverished communities into unfair land compensation deals, accompanied by police or sometimes private security in a bullying show-of-force. In the end, promises of favourable terms gave way to imposed agreements in a foreign language (which project-affected people could not understand) and at below-market rates without recourse – locking families into worsening poverty.
The report documents over 40 land defenders arrested recently, plus state restrictions on civic space. Some of the tactics used to control civil society include taxing NGO operations, police surveillance, and trumped-up charges against outspoken pipeline critics to neutralize resistance, as the Uganda President dubs this “his oil.” Activists describe escalating threats, physical attacks, property damage, and the omnipresent fear of reprisals for speaking out.
Our Campaign Coordinator confronted TotalEnergies’ CEO at COP28 in Dubai about the allegations from this investigation by Global Witness, particularly the evidence suggesting the company communicated with the Ugandan authorities before threats and detentions of anti-EACOP activists. He also raised issues with the seven Ugandan students arrested for petitioning their Parliament to halt the controversial EACOP and asked if Total would call for their release, to which CEO Patrick Pouyanné confirmed they would do so. It’s two days since TotalEnergies made that promise, but we’ve not seen any statements or media coverage. These seven students are still in jail at Luzira Maximum Prison.
We’re calling on the international community and all human rights supporters to pressure the Ugandan authorities to release these students. Asking for meaningful involvement in the energy future of one’s country is not a crime.
